Developing apparatus



March 17, 193i- J. L. GARRETSON DEVELOPING APFARTUS Filed March 23. 1929 2 Smets-511991 l DEvELoPNG APPARATUS Filed March 25, 19129v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 17, 1931 FFICE Partnr JOHN L. GARRETSON, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK DEVELOPING APPARATUS Application led March 23, 1929.

rlhis invention relates to improvements in developing apparatus which is adapted for daylight. use particularly in connection with Xray films. These lilms, as new manufac- `-`tured, are individually packed in separate containers or envelopes by which they are protected against exposure to light. In making X-ray photographs, the films are lett in their containers while the photographs are being taken and removed therefrom only when they are to be developed. During their removal and the subsequent developing process the iilms must be protected against ei;- posure to light which is ordinarily accomplished by conducting such operations in I 1 a dark room.

The principal object of the invention is to eliminate the necessity et the dark room and to enable daylight work by the use o apparatus for thoroughly protecting the iilnis against exposure to light during their removal from their containers and during the subsequent developing, washing and lining operations.

Another object is to provide means for inechanically withdrawing the films from their containers.

A Jfurther object is to provide a casing into which the films drop when they are withdrawn from their containers and by which they may he freely and safely carried in daylight and subjected to the various operations of the developing process.

An embodiment ot the invention is illustrated in the accompaning drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective of the tank with its cover iitted.

Figure 2 is a perspective oic the casing with its hinged door swung open.

Figure 3 is a perspective of the carriage frame.

Figure l is a. longitudinal section of a suitable tilm pack.

Figure 5 is a perspective ci. the same.

Figure 6 is a perspective showing the element partly withdrawn.

Figures 7 and 8 are sectional views respectively showing the apparatus as it appears Serial No. 349,364.

immediately before and after the mechanical wir irawal of the element.

T he developing apparatus essentially i11- cludcs an outer or tank 1, an inner casing 2 and a carriage frame 3 which is composed of a plurality of plates symmetcally arranged and secured in spaced parallel rela-` tion to delimit a series of separate chambers. hese parts may be composed or" any suitable material and fashioned in any suitable shape.

The tank 1 is provided with a closed end or bottom d and with a removable cover 5, the latter carrying a plunger 6 which normally is urged outwardly by a spring 7. The lcasing. 2 is freely in. tank 1.

The inner casing 2 preferably conforms in shape to the tank 1 and is provided with a closed end or bottom 9 and a hinged cover 10, the latter being weighted to close automatically unless otherwise held open. One side of the inner casing is provided with a vertical eX-f tension 11 which is formed to provide a ver` tical guideway leading into the casing 2. The upper end of the vertical extension 11 carries a 1pin 13 which may be utilized as a bail for carrying. the inner casing` from onek pointfto another and for inserting or removing it from the tank. The bail 13 also cooperates with the carriage trame 3 as described hereinafter.

Each open chamber of the carriage frame is adapted to receive a film pack containing the photographic element that is to be developed. The ordinary film pack indicated at P consists of a photographic element or film 14 which is contained within an envelope 15. The element 14 in dark room work .ordinarily removed by tearing away the envelope. For use with the present apparatus, however, one end of the envelope 15 is provided with a perforated tab 15a while the other end of the envelope is arranged to permit endwise withdrawal of the element 11i, the latter being prof vided with a perforated tab 14a to facilitate such withdrawal. lith this arrangement the element 14 may be withdrawn from the envelope 15 by pulling the tabs 14a and 15a in opposite directions.

The element tab 14a of each pack is secured ertable or removable from the n." DU.

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to the carriage frame by passing a pin 16 transversely through suitable apertures in the carriage frame at one end thereof, the pin 16 being at the same time passed through the apertures of the photographic element tabs 14a. l/Vith the packs thus secured, the carriage frame may be supported from the bail 13 by threading the apertures of the envelope tabs 15a over the bail. By proceeding in this manner, it is evident that the carriage frame is supported from the bail 13 by virtue of the binding action between the photographic elements 14 and their respective envelopes 15. rllhis operation may be conducted when the casing 2 is placed Within or Without the tank 1. At any rate, the casing 2 is arranged within the tank 1 with its hinged door 10 open, the door being held in this position by the carriage frame 3. The cover 5 is now properly fitted and the plunger 6 pressed inward. As the plunger 6 moves inward, it is brought into engagement with the plates of the carriage member 3 forcing the latter downward. rEhe photographic elements 14 being secured to the carriage frame move with it and are thus withdrawn from their respective envelopes, the envelopes being held in place through their engagement with the bail 13. WWhen the carriage frame has been pushed downward to a point where there is little or no binding force between the photographic elements 14 and their envelopes 15, the carriage frame drops by gravity and, in dropping is guided into the inner casing 2 by the guideway of the vertical extension 11. The hinged door 10 of the inner casing 2 now closes automatically thereby completely enclosing the carriage frame and photographic elements 14. The casing 2 thus adords full protection to the photographic elements 14 and it may, therefore, be withdrawn from the tank 1 and exposed to light without exposing the photographic elements. The envelopes 15 may be removed at any time simply by slipping them from the bail 13.

If desired, the photographicelements may be subjected to the developing bath while they remain within the tank 1. Obviously the developer may be placed within the tank before or after the photographic elements are separated from their envelopes. In any case, the elements are subjected to the developer for the desired length of time and then removed by removing the casing 2. To facilitate the flow of the developer and other baths into and out of the casing 2, the latter is provided with apertures 17 which are formed in such of its sides as extend parallel to the plates of the carriage frame 3. By so doing, the plates of the frame 3 prevent any light which may pass through the casing apertures 17-when the casing 2 is removed from the tank 1 from striking the photographic elements 14.

When the casing 2 has been withdrawn from the tank 1, the photographic elements 14 may be subjected to the washing and fixing baths simply by placing the casing 2 into the same. After the developing process has been completed, the elements 14 may be removed from the casing 2 by withdrawing the carriage frame 3 therefrom and then removing the pin 16 which secures the elements to the frame.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a photographic developing apparatus including a casing, a carriage member of the class described comprising a body arranged to provide chamber which is adapted to receive a film pack composed of a photcgraphic lilin contained within an envelope Ad slidably removable from one end thereof, and means Vfor securing said body to one ele'ient of said pack.

2. ln a pliotcgraaliic developing apparatus including a casing, a carriagemember of theV class described comprising a body arranged to provide a chamber which is adapt- -d to receive a pack composed of a pholhic element contained within an en- -rcm one end thereof, and means for securs d body Vto said element at the withv. end of the envelope.

in a photographic developing apparatus carriaG'e member of the class described a n a D comprising a series of plates secured in spaced parallel arrangement to provide a series of open ended chambers, each chamber being adanted to receive a film ack composed e n, l. i.- i oi a photographic element contained within an envelope and arranged for endwise withdrawal from one end thereof, and means er;- tending transversely through each chamber and ada )ted for enGaO'ement with the withb an drawal end of a hotowranhic element to secnre the same to said member.

4. 1n a photographic developing apparatus including casing, the combination of a carriage arranged to provide a chamber wl ich is adapted to receive a film pack comaosed of a photoora hic film contained with- `in an envelope and slidably removable from one end thereof, means adapted for engage- Aieiit with ciie elei Lent of said pack at one hereof to secure the same to said carencL t riage, means adapted for securement to the other element of said pack at the opposite end thereof and means for relatively separating the securing means first and last mentioned.

5. In a photographic developing apparatus including a casing, the combination of a carriage arranged to provide an open ended chamber which is adapted to receive a film pack composed of a photographic element contained within an envelope and arranged for endwise withdrawal from one end thereof, means carried by said carriage and adapted for engagement 'with the photographic element of said pack at the withdrawal end thereof, means adapted for secnrement to the envelope of said pack at the opposite end thereot and means for relatively separating the element and envelope securing means.

6. ln a photographic developing apparatus, the combination of tank, means adapted tor engagement with one end ot' the envel` oi a pack, the opposite end oi which arranged to permit the withdrawal of thpliotogranbic element contained th 7x1rein, support e pack within said tank, means adapted iE r seenrement to the withdrawal end oi2 sai photographic element and means moving said means last mentioned away from z "d Y2ans first mentioned whereb7 to ellioct ie .olidrawal of a photographic element from the envelope of a film pack secured betxfeen said `first and last mentioned means while moving said element tovard the bottom of tank.

7. In a photographic developing apparatus, 'the combination of a tant arranged to provide a dark chamber, means adapted for engagement with one end oi the envelope of a iilm pack, the opposite end of which arranged to permit the withdrawal of the photographic element contained therein, to support the pack within said tank, means adapted for secnrement to the withdrawal end oi said photographic element and means manually controlled from the ei; erior oi said tank moving said means last mentioned away from said means iirst mentioned whereby to effect the Withdrawal of a photographic element from the envelope of a film pack seonred between said first and last mentioned means while moving said element toward the bottom of said tank.

8. In a photographic developing apparatus, the combination of a tank arranged to provide a dark chamber, a body arranged to provide a chamber which is adapted to receive a film pack composed of a photographic element contained within an envelope and arranged for endwise withdrawal from one end thereof, means adapted for securing' the withdrawal end of said element to said body, means adapted for engagement with the envelope at the opposite end thereof to support said body within said tank and a plunger extending through and carried by said tank and adapted for movement into said tank to engage and move said body away from the envelope engaging means thereby to ett'ect the withdrawal of the photographic element Jfrom the engaged envelope.

9. ln a photographic developing apparatus including a casing, the combination of means adapted to support over said casing a Elm pack composed of a photographic eleient contained within an envelope and arranged for endwise withdrawal from one end thereof, said meano being arranged for supporting engagement with the envelope or" said pack, means adapted for securementto the withdrawal end of said element and for movement into said casing and away from said envelope engaging means and means for so moving said element engaging means.

10. In a photographic developing apparatus, the combination of a casing having an opening which is adapted to be closed by a hinged cover, a member secured to said casing and providing' a vertical guideway leading into said casing through said opening, a body arranged to provide an open ended chamber which is adapted to receive a film pack composed of a photographic element contained within an envelope and arranged for endwise withdrawal from one end thereof, means carried by said body and adapted for engagement with the photographic element of said pack at the withdrawal end thereof, means carried by the upper end of said member and adapted for engagement with the envelope of said pack at the end opposite from the element withdrawal end to support said body along said guideway and over said casing, said body depending thereunder to an extent sunicient to hold said cover in its open position after it has been moved thereto, and means for edecting a relative separating movement between said body and said envelope engaging means so as to withdraw said element from said envelope whereby said body together with said element is free to fall along said guideway and into said casing, the movement of said body rendering said cover free to move to its closed position.

il. ln' photographic developing apparatas, the combination or" a tank having a removable cover, said tank being arranged to provide a dark chamber, a casing having an opening which is adapted to be closed a hinged cover, said casing being insertable into said tank, a member secured to said casing and providing vertical guideway leading into said casing through said opening, a body arranged to provide an open ended chamber which is adapted to receive a film peek composed or a photographic element contained within an envelope and arranged for endwise withdrawal from one end thereof, means carried bl said body and dapted :tor engagement with the photo- ,Q'rapnic element of said pack at the withdrawal end thereof, means carried by the upper end of said member and adapted for cngagement with the envelope of said pack at the end opposite from the element withdrawal end to support said bod] along said guideway and over said casing, said body depending thereunder to an extent sufficient to hold said cover in its cpe-n position after it been moved thereto, and means controlled from the exterior of said tank for eecting a relative separating movement between said body and said envelope engaffing means so as gi to withdraw said element from said envelope whereby said body together with said element is 'free to `tall along said gnideway and into said casing, the movement or said bodyy rendering said cover i'ree to move to its closed position.

l2. ln a photographie developing apparatus, the combination of a tank arranged toV provide a dark chamber, a casing insertable into Said tank, saidcasing having a hinged cover r arranged to provide a dark chamber, means for supporting 'within said tank n and over said Casing a ilm'pack having a photographie element Contained Within an envelope, and means eontroied 'from the eXterior of said tank 1"'01' withdrawing the photographie element from said envelope and transferring it to the chamber provided by said Casing, said hinged cover being arranged in its open position prior to the transer of said element and adapted 'or movement to its closed position ater the transfer of said eie ments. i

l. in a photographie devoioping apparatus, the Combination o tank arranged to provide a dark chamber amil adapted to Contain photographic element developing bath, a casing insertable into said tank and provided with apertures ier the iow oi the developer between said tank and easing, said easing having a hin-get eover, means for supporting Within said tank and over said Casing a film pack having a photographie element oontained within an envelope, and means controlled from the exterior of said tank for withdrawing the photographic element from said envelope and transi'erring it to the chamber provided by said Casin g whereby it is subjeot to the developer contained in said Casing, said hinged cover being arranged in its 40 open position prior to the transfer of said element and adapted for movement to its ciosed position after the transfer of said element and means for preventing light from passing through the apertures in saidcasing and striking the photographie elements whereby the Casing may be removed from said tank and exposed to light Without eXpos- Y ing said elements.

In testimony whereof I hereby afiX my signature.

JOI-IN L. GARRETSON. 

